*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 37510* NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS April 15, 2004 Richard Diamond, 202- 418- 0506 Michael Balmoris, 202- 418- 0253 FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s Comments on QWEST’S commercial Agreement with COVAD COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Washington, DC – “I am pleased that Qwest and Covad have agreed upon commercial terms for line sharing arrangements. This agreement means that consumers in the Qwest region will have more choices for their broadband services. When the Commission voted to eliminate line sharing, I expressed my concern that the Commission was eliminating an important source of supply in the broadband market. Now, I am gratified that Qwest has agreed to offer line sharing services to Covad, so that Covad may offer broadband services to consumers. This agreement demonstrates that even without government compulsion, commercial arrangements negotiated in the market are possible. We hope this agreement will stimulate additional line sharing and unbundling arrangements, negotiated in the market. I urge all carriers to take the necessary steps, during the Commission’s call for a 45 day negotiation period, to ensure that consumers in all other regions of the country can enjoy the same benefits. Consumers clearly benefit from line sharing services. With this action, we are one step closer to achieving ubiquitous broadband connectivity.” - FCC - 1